Bar La Tranca — Restaurant in Málaga

A Local Gem in Malaga – Bar La Tranca

I almost don't want to write this review, just to keep this place a bit of a secret for the locals. But credit where credit’s due. Bar La Tranca was hands-down our favorite spot to eat and drink in Málaga. We ended up coming here five times during our six-day stay, and honestly, nothing else quite measured up.

The Highs:

Staff: The women running the bar are absolute pros. Even when the place was packed (which it often was), they somehow managed to stay on top of everything — drinks, food, service — all with a smile and an energy that was genuinely fun to watch. There’s clearly a strong sense of teamwork behind the bar, and it shows.

Food: Every dish we tried was a hit. Personal favorites: the rabo de toro, pincho de langostino, pincho de chorizo, and gildas. One miss — and totally our fault — was the toasta de melva. Neither of us are fans of tuna, and we didn’t realize that’s what it was. Chalk it up to our rusty Spanish.

Drinks: The Victoria beer on tap was ice cold and just right after a day of walking the city. My partner loved the vermut, and there was a sangria-like drink she ordered a few times that we still can’t remember the name of, but it was delicious. Great local wine options too. Whether you’re into beer, wine, or cocktails, there’s something here for you.

Ambiance: This is exactly how I imagined a true Andalusian tapas bar to feel. Music loud enough to set the mood, but not so loud you can’t talk. Even when it’s crowded (and it will be), it never feels chaotic. It’s warm, intimate, and just has that special vibe that makes you want to stay for hours. La Tranca is a happy place.

The Lows:

Honestly? None...

We discovered the places thanks to google reviews. 

I will not add any new review, but I will support the good ones about this place. 

I will start with the food, overall was good. We ordered Patatas Bravas; as everyone should know, this dish has as many versions as people in the world. The good thing is that this one was 7/10 in taste, presentation and portion size. I missed a bit more spiciness, but this is a personal preference.

We also ordered Migas. If you are travelling to Spain, this dish should be one of your top dishes to try. It’s a dish traditionally made from stale bread and other ingredients such as chorizo, morcilla, garlic, etc. and as traditional as paella, potato omelette or gazpacho. This one was good, again 7/10, well cooked, well presented and well seasoned.

We also ordered a pincho de gambas… was good, well cooked again, but any highlights about this dish and meatballs in tomato sauce, again, the plates were good but not as good as the 2 previous ones. 6/10

Finally, the Montadito La Tranka. It’s a sandwich with lomo marinado, it was good, but I think they have better options on the menu.

The place’s decoration is what makes the place attractive. It’s full of famous Andalucian artists portraits, from singers to toreros, making the place unique. 

The service was excellent, kind and very efficient during all...

Full of Spanish and locals which was exactly what we wanted as being half Spanish myself we know this is nearly always a good sign of better food. The garbanzos and spinach were nice, but the flamenquin was raw pork yet I was told twice when complaining it was jamon…I was dubious but because I’d never had it before wasn’t sure about it. Locals around me were sort of joking about it being « crudo » (raw) so I thought something was odd. I guess they thought I didn’t understand what they were saying? Unfortunately I did.

We left without eating it, who wants food poisoning? We paid and left but then went back to complain and get my money back as I realised we’d been messed around. When I walked back in, the locals said « did you enjoy it? » pretty much sarcastic and slightly jeering…they clearly knew, which is terrible. Fortunately I can speak Spanish and basically said you served me raw food and unsurprisingly got our money back immediately, no arguments. Disgusting - will not go back and don’t advise you bother if you’re not local either 👎 could’ve been great but was 💩 most disappointing experience I’ve had as a person of Spanish heritage in...